Shaver Lake Fun

Luke had planned a one day Jeep trip up to Shaver Lake with the boys and I couldn't let him have fun without "the girls!"
Thursday afternoon I told my boss the guys were headed up to his neck of the woods for a Jeep trip. Being the nice guy he is, he offered us the use of his second home in Shaver Lake for the weekend. We have used it a few times in the past so we had to take him up on the last minute family trip for the holiday weekend. It was a great opportunity to get out of the heat and get a change of scenery.
The only downside to the trip: squeezing the five of us and all our crap-ola into Luke's Jeep.
Yes...his Jeep seats five.
BUT...there is only so much space in the back of that rig.
That also meant Petunia and I would be without a vehicle Saturday while the guys were off wheelin'. Fortunately for me, I enjoyed not having the temptation of running around or going anywhere. I savored the peace and quiet because like most moms, its RARE.
We left town as soon as Luke got off work Friday and eventually pulled into Shaver after 10pm.

Saturday morning Petunia woke us all up bright and early (as usual) and we headed 2 miles up the road to town for a few groceries. (It would have been a perfect day (and distance) to run/walk with Petunia if I had room to bring the jogger stroller) :) But that's ok.

Luke and the boys took off for the day at 8am after dropping us off back at the house. Petunia and I played and played and played...and napped...until the boys arrived home around 3pm. It was delicious, but we were all smiles when they pulled up to the house.

I am always happy to see them back, safe and sound! 

Girls photo shoot on the back porch:

Playing on the swing set near the cabin

Heading to the Farmers Market in town. Ice Cream for everyone as an appetizer before dinner.

A nice old guy offered to take a picture of all of us when he saw me taking pictures of everyone. Thanks old guy!! :) (I tried to cut the Budweiser neon sign out of the background!) hahahaha.

We ate dinner at the usual spot---Shaver Lake Pizza. The pizza is REALLY cheesy, but the boys loved the video games and quarter machines.

Tubbs wanted more quarters....so he had to give me 20 kisses. I puckered up and he thought I was silly.

Waiting for the pizza....after running out of quarters!

The boys loved learning to conquer the world, via "Risk" with daddy. Fortunately for us there were plenty of games at the house to keep the kids entertained.

While the boys played games, Petunia modeled her new pajamas. She is such a ham for the camera. I should of gotten this girl an agent and made some $$ off those dimples and button nose. She eats it up!

Its only 150 miles to home, but Petunia wasn't a big fan....as you can tell.

Petunia's First Birthday Extravaganza

I absolutely cannot believe this girl is one all ready.
Holy mother of Batman!!
(She is absolutely too big for her britches.)
We decided to have her birthday party with family and a few friends on her actual birthday. It seemed like a great idea at the time because we were going to keep it "small" but I never stick to the original plan most of the time.
Thankfully I had "elves" helping me out to make this party go so smoothly....and delicious. Grandma and Grandpa Baer stayed with us through the week and watched the kids for us. They were enlisted to help decorate while Luke and I were at work, pick up balloons from the party store and...and they even cleaned. THANK YOU mom and dad. My other set of elves, Grandma and Grandpa Hogue, picked up Petunia's birthday cake and cupcakes for us from Sweet Surrender and I think everyone was very pleased...... They were incredible. THANK YOU Bob and Nancy!
I wish I had these elves 24 hours a day! :)

Grandma Hogue made the cupcake dress for her

The "spread" of cupcakes: key lime, milk chocolate, peanut butter and strawberry.

Grandpa Hogue and Grandpa Baer with the birthday girl.

Luke and his ol' buddy ol' pal--"Kimsey."

I want it NOWWWWWWWW!

The boys with Kimsey's little boy.

Petunia was fascinated by Carianne's necklace and was trying to talk her out of it for a last minute birthday gift.

Blowing out the candles on her strawberry "cupcake cake."

"Grams" (Great Grandma Josefine) and Petunia

This little girl made out like a bandit....thankfully. She needed some toys...and "girly" stuff.

Aunt Jenny gave her a Cabbage Patch doll that belonged to her when she was a little girl. We LOVE CPK dolls!

Bubba and Tubbs got her a stroller and a baby doll with a carrier. It was a hit!!

Family of five....has survived the first year! :)

Happy Birthday---we LOVE you Tooney Roon-Rooney!

First Day of School - 2010

I have no creative title for this post.
First day of school..blah blah blah.
I have to say I have never seen so many happy mothers on one location in my life.
I am not one of those happy mothers.
I do not look forward to the first day of school. Maybe that's rare, but it might also be because I am a working mom and it creates more hecticness in my life. One of the chores I despise the most: packing lunches. Can't stand it.
Anyways...I should state for the record that both the boys were very excited for the first day of school.
Not because they got to go to school, but because they were no longer grounded from their Nintendo DSi's. Yes--these boys have their priorities straight.
A few weeks ago they were confiscated and we told them they could have them back when summer was over. So--at 7:30 am this morning after they were all ready for school, they pulled them out like kids on Christmas morning.
(I should have gotten a picture of that, but somehow forgot)
This year Tubbs is in first grade. He was going over his schedule with Bubba and I informed him that this after lunch he went back to class instead of going home. All I heard was a loud moan from the back seat. Poor kid. In another two years he'll have to stay another 30 minutes longer. (Probably not a good idea to talk to him about my 9 hour work day. Ha-ha. Give him something to really look forward to.)

Tubbs picked out black slip on Vans for his school shoes. Its totally Tubbs because I bet no other kid would wear these things. The number one reason for skip-ons....no laces. Smart kid. Thank goodness he learned to tie his laces this summer, but he knew these shoes would save him time in the morning.

Bubba picked out some Nike Jordans because they would be good basketball shoes for the playground. The kid knows how to tie them, but I am such a control freak and pushed for time, I tied them myself anyways....and maybe a double knot. Because that's what I do.

Bubba woke up this morning with a bad stomach ache and spent most of his time in the bathroom. Poor kid. Tubbs was up and ready to go before Bubba even got out of the shower. We left the house a little early this morning to stop by the store for Pepto for Bubba. Hopefully his first day isn't too miserable.

The kids with their friend Madison Montana.

Tubbs is much more "mature" for his six years. Walking into the school he was trying to stay at least 20 feet away and said he didn't need me to walk him to his classroom. Of course I kept calling him "snickerdoodle" and insisted I had to take him. This is the look I got when I asked for a picture at his desk. I have seen that lookmany times from someone else in my house.....over the past 11 years. :)

Bubba on the other hand is my third grader this year and he held my hand all the way from the car to the front of school--which was a long walk this year. When I got to his classroom I didn't see any other parents and I jokingly asked his teacher if I was the only parent to walk their third grader to their classroom. She assured me I wasn't....thank goodness. I had to whisper in her ear about Bubba's little stomach problem this morning and she assured me it was no problem. Hopefully the Pepto kicks in and works. I'll say it again...Poor Bubba.

Every year I get a pictures of the boys in front of the house. I look forward to this even when my boys are grown and have facial hair....which hopefully won't be for another 8-10 years. I love you boys....you make your father and I very proud.

One Year Birthday Photos

I love her one year pictures! (www.juliemulkayphotography.com)
Happy Birthday Petunia...and thank you Julie for capturing this sassy little girl in action!

Happy First Birthday Petunia!

Happy Birthday sister friend!!
Hard to believe this little bundle of smiles and giggles has been with our family a year.
She brings so many laughs to our family and we are so blessed to have a little sister in our family. Watching the boys learn to be tender with her has been fun to watch as well. Of course, its a work in progress. I think she is going to be rough and tumbly like the Hogue tag team!

Mama's Shower Cap is a lots of fun!

Her mini-dress (or "Rachel dress" if you have been watching "Big Brother" this season)

I love this dress!

I love this smile!Petunia officially has five teeth now that both her two top "beavers" broke through over the past two weeks. (And what a LOOOOONG two weeks it has been) :)

Bubba's favorite thing: "Jiggs has a cute mouth."
Tubbs' favorite thing: "She has a funny laugh."
Daddy's favorite thing: "Petunia is always happy."
Mama's favorite thing: "She way she smiles with her eyes."

We love you Tooney-Roon!

My Bargain Shopper

It brings tears to my eyes to see her natural instinct at such a young age! (Sniff-sniff)
We had an impromptu trip to Target after dinner. After a long ride in the shopping cart we pulled Petunia out of the cart to let her walk. She cruised right on over to these pink shorts. What can I say, she knows what she likes.

"Hmmmmm...do they have my size?"

"Hmmmmm....will my booty fit in these?"

..."But they're a good price....."

"Can I get these mom?"

Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting

I wasn't too sure about these, but I think they are a keeper. I found a recipe online and modified it a little.
**Be sure to use cupcake liners in the pan, because the cupcakes are so moist they will stick to the bottom of the pan. Also, natural peanut butter has a stronger taste. If you use regular PB, you might not be able to taste much of the PB because of the brown sugar.**

Ingredients:

2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
1 cup NATURAL peanut butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 pinch salt
Mini Reese's PB cups


Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a cupcake pan with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the brown sugar, oil and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt; stir into the batter alternately with the milk.
3. Spoon a small amount of batter into each prepared muffin cup. Place one mini Reese's PB cup in each cup. Cover the candy with additional batter.
4. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until the top of the cupcakes spring back when lightly pressed. Cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Frosting Recipe:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup creamy NATURAL peanut butter
3 tablespoons milk, or as needed
2 cups confectioners' sugar
Mini Chocolate chips


Directions:
1. Place the butter and peanut butter into a medium bowl, and beat with an electric mixer. Gradually mix in the sugar, and when it starts to get thick, incorporate milk one tablespoon at a time until all of the sugar is mixed in and the frosting is thick and spreadable. Beat for at least 3 minutes for it to get good and fluffy.
2. After frosting the cupcakes, sprinkle the top with mini chocolate chips.